Struggles of Northeastern Ontario Communities Amid Climate Change

Janelle Oombash stands on the ice of an outdoor rink, keeping score while teenagers run and hit a ball with sticks under the warm afternoon sun. Nearby, a bonfire crackles, providing warmth to spectators watching the game.

Bloomball, a sport that’s been popular in northern Ontario for over a hundred years, resembles hockey but uses a ball instead of a puck, and players wear special shoes instead of skates. Oombash, now 31, first played at the age of 11, learning the sport from her father, a former coach. “It’s a big deal around here. Everyone plays broom ball and hockey,” she shared.

At Cat Lake First Nation, a small Ojibway community of around 650 people, Oombash organized today’s Broomball Tournament. “It’s a great way for the kids to connect,” she noted, gesturing to a couple of boys on the same team. “You might not talk much, but when it’s game time, they really come together.”

Unfortunately, such events are becoming less frequent. The community lacks an indoor facility, and the available ice lasts only a few weeks each winter. “We used to have tournaments regularly, but the ice conditions make that difficult now,” Oombash lamented. “That’s disappointing.”

Although the outdoor rink opened in early February, unseasonably warm temperatures caused it to close for a week, forcing the cancellation of practices. “We had planned to meet up, but the weather just wouldn’t cooperate,” she explained. “I really have no idea how long the ice will hold up.”

The impact of climate change poses increasing challenges to the traditional rights and customs of Indigenous communities. Warming temperatures alter animal migration, disrupt access to essential food sources, and threaten sacred plants used in cultural practices.

In northern Ontario, climate change impacts winter activities such as broomball, hockey, and even ice fishing and hunting. The shortening winter and dwindling ice availability force communities to adapt.

“We’re hoping they can build indoor arenas so we can play year-round,” Oombash stated. “It’s clear that climate conditions are shifting. We all know it’s getting warmer.”

The landscape of northern Ontario is defined by dense forests, wetlands, and a network of lakes and rivers. Remote communities are often only reachable by plane, with winter roads formed on frozen lakes providing some accessibility for residents.

Winter marks the prime hunting season for the Eabametoong First Nation, home to around 1,600 people. It’s the time when lakes solidly freeze, enabling travel to hunting sites with family members from surrounding areas.

This March, Martha Papa looked forward to a hunting trip with her adult son in Nescantaga. They planned to hunt beavers for meat—and fur, which finds use in making hats and gloves. “This time of year is perfect for beaver hunting,” she remarked, as animals are less likely to have eaten bitter plants yet.

To reach Nescantaga, Martha’s family travels across a frozen lake often becoming dangerously thin. “I’m eager to go, but we have to stay alert on the ice,” she said. “Crossing can be risky now.”

The two communities are isolated from each other, with no year-round roads connecting them. To visit her son without a winter road, Martha must fly a long distance—costing a significant amount for a round trip. “Going via winter roads is much cheaper,” she noted.

Rising temperatures also disrupt goose hunting seasons. In spring, Canadian geese return north to breed, but warmer weather alters their migration patterns, making hunting harder and more unpredictable. “This affects our food supplies and increases reliance on costly groceries,” Martha added.

“Global warming has disrupted all the activities we do, including our search for nutrition,” explained Solomon Atlookan, chief of Eabametoong. “It’s become really challenging.”

In April, hunters like Solomon look forward to outings where they can shoot geese and prepare meals over campfires. However, open water has started appearing along travel routes, complicating these trips. “It’s becoming a struggle,” he mentioned.

John Maezetaway Shetick, a resident of Ebametoong, spends substantial time outdoors each year hunting, fishing, and trapping, sharing his experiences online. But the increase in dangers makes travel more complicated. “I need to be cautious on my journeys now,” he said. “Everything feels riskier.”

He commented on how changes in animal behaviors have made hunting harder. “We haven’t been able to catch anything lately. The animals have shifted where they go,” he lamented.

When the weather warms, he feels the changes acutely. “In the past, we could count on reliable ice and snow for our trips, but not anymore,” he added.

On a recent flight to Thunder Bay for a hockey tournament, Meeseetawaygeesic recalled emptying his stomach on the plane due to jitters. When not hunting, he also coaches the local hockey team. They travel to Dryden for a major tournament. “We’ve been gearing up for a strong showing,” he conveyed.

After winning a smaller tournament to help fund their flight, Meeseetawaygeesic had to adjust plans as warm weather rendered traditional travel routes unreliable. His truck had gotten stuck in recent snow due to softening roads, necessitating their flight instead.

The winter roads that used to freeze over each year made it more affordable for teams to reach competitions, but warmer temperatures are impacting their availability. “Many in the North face difficulties returning after tournaments because the ice and snow are disappearing,” he remarked.

To spur his team along, he emphasized the need for commitment. Eventually, upon arriving in Dryden, their team won the championship in the B-side division.